A Castle Donington couple who turned to fostering after nearly a decade of trying to have children of their own are calling on more people to provide a home for local youngsters.

Matthew and Tracey Spencer married in 2003 and tried in vain for years to have a child of their own but after a failed IVF attempt in 2001, followed by Tracey having a hysterectomy, the couple decided to foster last year.

They both now work for the independent foster care agency, Orange Grove, and have looked after a five year-old girl for seven months as well as taking four children under their wing for respite care since being approved as foster carers in July 2012.

They are encouraging others in their predicament to follow in their footsteps.

Tracey said: “We’ve always wanted to have our own children but for medical reasons we couldn’t. We decided to become foster carers because children want and need to be loved, and a stable environment and that’s what we can provide.

“We have been truly blessed with our placements, we had no experience of children of our own but we took at it like a duck to water and it’s amazing how much you can learn.

“The five-year-old thrived with us and grew into herself, it was amazing to see, she was like our own daughter, part of our family. It has been wonderful for us, we are so happy.”

For more information about fostering, contact Orange Grove on 0300 303 8304 or visit www.OrangeGroveFostercare.com